Wheel lift container

ABSTRACT

A cargo container includes a body comprising or including a flat bottom or a bottom substantially flat at regions corresponding to the distances at which vehicle tires are spaced on an axle of a typical vehicle to be towed, whereon a plurality of surfaces which extend out of the body bottom or flat regions are disposed to engage and be retained by the tow truck wheel lift assembly draw bar and the extension (when deployed) and permit the cargo container to be lifted, moved or otherwise retained by the tow truck.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates generally to transportable cargo containers.More specifically, this application relates to cargo containers adaptedto be retained by a tow truck wheel lift assembly and therebytransported behind the tow truck.

BACKGROUND

Frequently trucks, including tow trucks, include a vehicle towingassembly designed to engage the lower portion of the vehicle tires ofone axle with a bar or portions of a front bar extending across a widthacross the tires, and engaging the lower rear of the tires with afurther rear bar or bar portions also extending across the with acrossthe tires so that the when the front and rear bar or bar portions areraised, the vehicle tires rest on and partially between the front andrear bar or bar portions.

It is desirous to transport material other than or in addition tovehicles having tires mounted on axle(s). However, the addition of thetowing assembly or the construction of the tow truck generally precludesthe inclusion of a place to receive such material, and often precludesthe inclusion of a facility to allow the connection of a towed trailer.However, even if the ability to tow a trailer is provided, it is oftennot desirable due to do so. Thus, despite the capacity of tow trucks tomove substantial vehicles, their utility beyond towing vehicles isnoticeably marginal at best.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a cargo containerincludes a body comprising or including a flat bottom or a bottomsubstantially flat at regions corresponding to the distances at whichvehicle tires are spaced on an axle of a vehicle to be towed, whereon aplurality of surfaces which extend out of the body bottom or flatregions are disposed to engage the tow truck wheel lift assembly drawbar and the extension (when deployed) and permit the cargo container tobe lifted, moved or otherwise retained by the tow truck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings, when considered in connection with the followingdescription, are presented for the purpose of facilitating anunderstanding of the subject matter sought to be protected.

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a one embodiment according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an upward planar view of the container according to a furtherembodiment showing engagement with a typical wheel lift assembly at aninitial stage and partially deployed stage of wheel lift assemblyengagement; and

FIG. 3 is an upward planar view of the container according to theembodiment of FIG. 2 showing a fully deployed wheel lift assemblyengagement therewith.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary embodiment 50 is shown in FIG. 1, wherein a wheel liftassembly 60, typically attached to the rear of another vehicle, e.g. atow truck, extends under an exemplary container 70 and engages members80A attached thereto. In the embodiment 50, the members 80A, 80Bcomprises two pairs of flanges formed by sections of angle iron havingcorresponding edges 82A, 82B of each pair fastened (e.g. by welding) toextend out from the bottom 72 of the container 70 at and provideoutwardly facing surfaces spaced between the pairs approximating thespacing of a portion of the automobile tires typically engaged andcarried by the wheel lift assembly 60 (e.g. ______ to ______ inches inthe exemplary embodiments shown), wherein the unattached ends 84A, 84Bof the angle iron sections face outward from each other to form theflange ends which further engages the wheel lift assembly 60, especiallyif and when upward (relative to the wheel lift assembly 60) forces ormotion is encountered. However, alternate embodiments without the ends(e.g. 84A, 84B) are within the scope of the present invention.

The embodiment 50 of FIG. 1 may also include an additional pair ofmembers 80C which are mounted to the bottom 72 and extend outwardtherefrom with each element of the pair being fastened between a pair ofmembers 80A and 80B and if having a surface such surface would typicallybe orthogonal thereto, and providing relatively facing surfaces spacedapart at a distance approximating the distance between facing sides oftires on an axle of a vehicle carried by the wheel lift assembly 50,typically ______ to ______ inches in the exemplary embodiment shown. Themembers 80C may also be fabricated by angle iron or equivalent andfurther include unattached ends which form flange ends that are disposedto face each other and provide further engagement of the wheel liftassembly 60.

In operation, the embodiments according to the present invention areretained by the wheel lift assembly by first introducing the retractedor stowed wheel lift assembly between pairs of members until contact ismade therewith, as shown in a container 90 of FIGS. 2 and 3 illustratingthe subsequent engagement with a typical tow truck wheel lift assembly,60. In the container 90, pairs of members 92A, 92B are disposed toextend out of the substantially planar container 90 bottom 94 each havea surface which is initially engaged by a draw bar 62 of the assembly 60and substantially lying on the line defined by the confronting edge ofthe draw bar 62. The typical wheel lift assembly includes additional “L”arms 64 having an end pivotally connected to the drawbar 62 to positionthe “L” arms at a distance substantially corresponding to a typicalspacing between wheels on an axle of a vehicle to be towed, and areshown in FIG. 2 in a stowed position 66 and a partially deployedposition 68.

When fully deployed as shown in FIG. 3, the end of the “L” arms 64 notpivotally connected to the drawbar 62 become substantially parallel tothe drawbar 62 and capture the members 92A and 92B therebetween byengaging the outward facing surfaces of the members 92A and 92B.Accordingly, the container 90 is retained by the wheel lift assembly 60in lateral directions (in the plane of the drawings) as well as beinglifted (into the plane of the drawing). Moreover, an additional facingpair of members 92C is mounted on the bottom 94 at a relative distancefrom the drawbar 62 between the distances of the members 92A, 92Brelative to the drawbar 62, and having facing surfaces spaced a distancecorresponding to the facing tire surfaces which the wheel lift assemblyis expected to engage, or at a distance which permits the “L” arm tofully deploy as shown in FIG. 3. Additionally, the members 92A, 92B, 92Cmay further include flange ends (similar to 84A, 84B, 84C of FIG. 1) toprovide enhanced retention in the wheel lift assembly.

To disengage, the container is lowered to be supported on the ground,e.g. by wheels 96 or other supports mounted to the bottom 94, and the“L” arms (or corresponding element in the wheel lift assembly) arewithdrawn into a position which permits the wheel lift assembly 60 to bemoved away from the container, e.g. 70 and 90.

The embodiments according to the present invention are useful with othertowing or wheel lift assemblies which engage opposing surfaces with orwithout the “L” arms. Furthermore, the flanges 80A, 80B, 80C surfacesand equivalents in other embodiments according to the present inventionmay be other than continuous and/or flat surfaces, such as separatedsegments thereof, and may also be formed in various manners, e.g. ascontiguous portions of a single member. Moreover, since the uppersurfaces of the wheel lift assemblies which engage tires of the vehiclesto be towed are likely to be substantially of the same plane, so toshould the bottom 94 (or 72) surfaces be, or include portions which aresubstantially co-planar at least in the regions having the members 80A,80B for best stability.

The container including the bottom 72 or 94 may comprise a simpleplatform or a structure having one or more removable or permanentsidewalls (e.g. 76A, 76B of FIG. 1) and/or a top to provide an enclosedvolume, and be appropriately sized to carry material as desired.

Further modifications and substitutions made by one of ordinary skillare within the scope of the present invention which is not to be limitedexcept by the claims which follow.

1. A transportable container, comprising: a container bottom having atleast two spaced apart co-planar portions; a first and a second pair offlange members each pair being mounted to a respective one of saidbottom co-planar portions, each pair having mutually outwardly facingflange member ends, and each flange member having a surface betweenextending out of the plane of said bottom co-planar members and disposedbetween said flange member ends and said bottom co-planar portions. 2.The transportable container of claim 1, further including a third pairof flange members, wherein one of said third pair is mounted on one ofsaid bottom co-planar portion and the other of said pair is mounted onthe other of said bottom co-planar member.
 3. The transportablecontainer of claim 2, wherein said third pair of flange members isdisposed to provide mutually inwardly facing flange member ends.
 4. Thetransportable container of claim 2, wherein at least one of said first,said second and said third pair of flange members wherein said surfacescomprise elongated surfaces.
 5. The transportable container of claim 2,wherein said third pair of flange members are detached from at least oneof said first and said second pair of flange members.
 6. Thetransportable container of claim 1, wherein said bottom is substantiallyplanar.
 7. The transportable container of claim 1, further including atleast one enclosure surface mounted to said bottom to define a containervolume.
 8. The transportable container of claim 1 further including atleast one wheel mounted to said bottom.
 9. A container, comprising abody including a bottom having an associated width dimension; a firstpair of support members each disposed on said bottom along a lineparallel to said width dimension and being relatively spaced accordingto a first distance therebetween; a second pair of support members eachdisposed on said bottom and relatively spaced at substantially saidfirst distance, wherein one said pair first support members is disposedproximal to a corresponding one of said second pair of support membersand the other of said first support members is disposed proximal to acorresponding other of said second support members, and wherein each ofsaid corresponding first and said second support members includerelatively outwardly facing surfaces space at a second distance; and athird pair of support members each disposed on said body and spacedapart a second distance, and being disposed proximal to said first andsaid second support members a distance less than or equal to said seconddistance.
 10. The container of claim 9, wherein at least one of saidfirst pair, said second pair and said third pair includes a supportsurface substantially perpendicular to said bottom.
 11. The container ofclaim 10, wherein at least one of said first pair and said second pairof support members further include relatively outwardly facing flangesurfaces disposed on said support surface having flange ends with arelative spacing greater than said second distance.
 12. The container ofclaim 10, wherein said third pair of support members further includerelatively inwardly facing flange surfaces disposed on said supportsurface having flange ends with a relative spacing less than said firstdistance.
 13. The container of claim 9, wherein at least one of saidfirst and said second support members comprises angle iron membersdisposed relative to the corresponding of said body planar members todefine a channel adapted to receive a wheel lift assembly membertherein.
 14. The container of claim 9, wherein at least one of saidfirst and said second support member surfaces comprises an elongatedsurfaces.
 15. The container of claim 9, wherein said bottom includes twosubstantially planar surfaces to which said first and said secondsupport members are disposed.
 16. The container of claim 9, wherein saidbottom further includes a plurality of wheels connected thereto.
 17. Thecontainer of claim 9, further including at least one side attached tosaid bottom.